Let's call you Israel

Haiku for those who wrestle

Night time, going home.

Jacob takes wives, maids, children;

crosses Jabbok ford.

Sending them further

across the stream, Jacob stays

behind, all alone.

A stranger turns up.

They wrestle, (why wouldn’t they?)

They wrestle ‘til dawn.

The man does not win.

He is clever, strikes Jake’s hip,

dislocating it.

The man says. Let go!

Dawn breaks, and I must depart!

You must bless me first.

The man asks his name.

You will not be called Jacob.

You’ll be Israel.

Israel: God strives.

You have striven with many,

and God, and prevailed.

Name yourself, asks Jake.

Why do you ask? He answered.

Then he blessed Jacob.

I have seen God’s face

and yet have lived! Jacob named

the place, ‘Peniel.’

© Ken Rookes 2023

Haiku for our times

We come together

in a common search for truth;

we won’t be silent.

Symbolic gestures

are useless, we need real deeds;

the Voice is a start.

Let’s do the right thing;

respect First Nations people

and give them a voice.

Prove you’re not racist;

acknowledge your privilege,

and accord respect.

Our history’s black

with violence, red with blood;

we must own our shame.

Voice, treaty and truth;

partnering to build justice,

inching us forward.

Compassion, common

sense, understanding and truth;

let these things prevail.

White privilege, blind

and ungenerous, never

conceding an inch.

I’ll be voting ‘No,’

he adamantly declares;

doesn’t give reasons.

They have been frightened

by exaggerated claims.

But things have to change.

Deep prejudices,

unknown and unadmitted,

threaten our future.

Older white people

grew up without the stories,

remain in darkness.

Now we know. Murder,

massacre, dispossession;

our national shame.

Many the children

taken from their families;

the traumas abound.

We must not retreat

from the racists; their hateful

bones tremble with fear.

The darkness thickens.

Even more reason to tend

the flickering flame.

So much selfishness,

failure to see our neighbours;

we must learn to care.

Let love be your guide.

Plant seeds of justice and hope.

Tend them ‘til they bloom.

© Ken Rookes 2023

Let's get married

Haiku for staying sober.

Laban asks Jacob,

What wages shall I pay you?

Give me your daughter.

Jacob loves Rachel.

She is beautiful. I’ll work

seven years for her.

Her father agrees:

Better you than another.

Seven years flew by.

At the wedding feast,

much wine. In the lamp’s dim light

sisters look the same.

Next morning. Behold:

Leah, the older sister!

Jacob’s not impressed.

The deal was Rachel!

Jacob protests. We agreed;

You pulled a swiftie!

Laban makes defense:

The elder must marry first.

That is our custom.

Take the honeymoon

week, then wed the younger one.

Do seven more years.

Left without much choice

Jacob completed the week,

then he wed Rachel.

(Don’t use the bible

to argue marriage practice;

it’s fraught with problems!)

© Ken Rookes 2023

Heaven's gate

Haiku of unexpected presence

Jacob’s off, leaving

 

his troubles behind; fleeing

 

north towards Haran.

 

Resting overnight,

 

with a stone for a pillow;

 

Jacob is dreaming.

 

A ladder reaches

 

from the earth to the heavens;

 

angels climb, descend.

 

God stands beside him,

 

It is I, your fathers’ God;

 

I give you this land.

 

Your offspring will be

 

like earth’s dust; through your children

 

all earth shall be blessed.

 

I will be with you,

 

keep you in my care, and bring

 

you back to this land.

 

The dream is ended.

 

Jacob speaks: The Lord is here;

 

I did not know it!

 

Awesome! says Jacob.

 

This place is the house of God,

 

the gate of heaven!

 

Setting his pillow-

 

stone up as a pillar, Jake

 

names the place, “Bethel.”

© Ken Rookes 2023

 

Who's first?

Haiku of sibling rivalry

Rebeckah’s pregnant!

After all these years, Isaac’s

prayers have been answered!

Twins! The two children

fight it out within the womb.

Rebeckah’s anxious.

They are two nations,

says the Lord. The elder one

will serve the younger.

A time to be born.

The first boy was red, hairy.

They named him Esau.

The second emerged,

hand upon his brother’s heel.

They named him Jacob.

Esau the hunter,

loved by his dad; Jake, quiet

loved by Rebeckah.

Let me have some stew,

said Esau. Sure, said Jacob;

Sell me your birthright.

I’m starving to death,

what’s the use of my birthright?

Swear to me! I swear.

Trading his birthright

Esau ate the stew with bread,

and went on his way.

Short term benefit

or some vague future increase;

what would be my choice?

© Ken Rookes 2023

A romantic yarn

Haiku for a happy arrangement

A romantic yarn

from ancient times; how Isaac

came to wed his bride.

The servant was sent

to find a bride from among

the far-off rellies.

The girl drew water

for me and my camels, I

knew she was the one!

Rebeckah receives

bracelets of gold and a ring

for her nose: how cool!

Will you go with him?

Her father asks. She’s feisty:

I’ll give it a go!

The girl demurely

dons her veil before meeting

her husband-to-be.

Isaac, Rebeckah;

they become a couple, with

love sorting it out.

An arranged marriage,

but at least the girl was asked;

she could have said No.

© Ken Rookes 2023